Sima is Finland’s lightly fermented lemon drink, traditionally prepared for Vappu and enjoyed with doughnuts or funnel cakes.
Brown sugar gives the drink its pale amber color, while a very small amount of yeast builds gentle fizz over several chilled days.
Use pressure-safe bottles, refrigerate after the first ferment, and check pressure every day.
Serving Suggestions
Serve very cold with Finnish doughnuts, funnel cakes, or a simple picnic spread.
Recipe Notes
Fermentation continues slowly in the bottle, so drink within a week and open carefully over a sink.
Finnish Sima
A lightly fermented Finnish lemon drink made with brown sugar, yeast, and raisins for Vappu celebrations.
Equipment
- Large nonreactive pot
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Clean swing-top bottles
- Funnel
Ingredients
Sima
- 8 cups water divided
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 medium lemons scrubbed well
- 1/8 tsp active dry yeast
For Bottling
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
Instructions
Start the Sima:
- Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in both sugars until dissolved. Add the remaining cold water.
- Use a vegetable peeler to remove thin strips of yellow lemon zest without white pith. Juice the lemons and add zest and juice to the pot.
- When the mixture cools to lukewarm, sprinkle in the yeast and stir once. Cover loosely with a clean towel and ferment at room temperature for 18 to 24 hours.
Bottle and Chill:
- Strain into clean bottles, leaving at least 1 1/2 inches headspace. Add 3 to 4 raisins and a small pinch of the bottling sugar to each bottle.
- Close the bottles loosely and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days. Check pressure daily; the sima is ready when raisins rise and the drink is lightly sparkling.
- Open slowly over a sink and serve well chilled.
Notes
- Refrigeration slows but does not stop fermentation. Use pressure-safe bottles, check them daily, and vent carefully.
- Sima is typically low in alcohol when young, but alcohol and pressure can rise with longer or warmer storage.
Nutrition
Calories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 37gSodium: 5mgSugar: 35g